Photo ID

WI Voter Photo ID

Voters are urged to make sure they have an acceptable photo ID to vote. Most voters already have one of the types of photo ID required to vote.

Election Day

On Election Day, voters must show one of the following photo IDs before they can cast a ballot:

Wisconsin Driver License

Wisconsin State ID Card

Military ID Card

U.S. Passport Book or Card

Veteran's ID Card

*These IDs are still valid if expired after the date of the most recent general election which was November 8, 2016.

The following form of photo ID are also acceptable:

A Certificate of Naturalization, within two years of issuance

Driver License Receipt issued by the WI DOT, within 45 days of issuance

ID issued by a federally recognized Wisconsin Indian Tribe

A photo ID issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college, or technical college along with an enrollment verification document. Valid for two years from date of issue.

*An acceptable photo ID is not required to include a current address.

If you do not have a valid Wisconsin Driver License or State ID you may receive a free State ID from your local DMV if you specifically request a free ID for voting purposes. If you do not have a birth certificate, the DMV can help with that too. Please contact your local DMV for more information.

Absentee Voting

During in-person absentee voting, voters must present photo ID just like on Election Day. In-person absentee voting begins on the third Monday before an election and must end at 5 p.m. the Friday before the election.

When voters request an absentee ballot by mail, they must include a photocopy of their photo ID with the request or the ballot cannot be mailed. However, voters who are "indefinitely confined" because of age, illness, infirmity or disability and voters in care facilities do not need a photo ID. Instead, the absentee witness verifies the voter's identity. Active members of the U.S. Armed Services who are away from home are also exempt from the photo ID requirement.